The Intracoastal Waterway is a system of canals that offer protected water routes on the East Coast of America, by means of the Atlantic Waterway and along the Gulf of Mexico coast via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Atlantic Waterway extends from Key West in the South and Boston in the North, whilst the Gulf waterway extends from Apalachee Bay in Florida to Brownsville in Texas. This system of rivers, bays, coastal sounds and canals provide a navigable channel to barges and recreational boating for more than 2500 miles. The US army Corps of Engineers maintains the ICW. They state the ICW is dredged to a minimum of 6 feet, however, at places the depth is less, especially during drought periods. I remember one day in particular near Oriental, North Carolina, where Thetis, a 34ft monuhull from Germany ran aground 5 times in 30 miles – her draft was just under 6ft. We were on a South African built Prout catamaran, My-Ling, so the risk of us running aground was minimal.

One interesting aspect of our 6 month trip along the Atlantic Intracoastal waterway was the number of historic towns we came across and how wars had shaped their history. Many of these towns played an important part in the shaping of modern American history, especially during and after the Civil War. The importance of the ICW to the mercantile importance of many of the towns we visited was evident. Sadly, however, with modern transport solutions the commercial importance of the ICW has greatly diminished. During WWII, the Atlantic waterway was used by the US Navy to move vessels up the Atlantic coast thereby diminishing the threat of attack by German U Boats.

There is just so much to see and do along the ICW, so many good seafood restaurants, where prices are very reasonable. Every town visited had so many colourful and friendly characters, the renowned Southern hospitality is certainly true.

The Dismal Swamp - This Canal, which was begun in 1793, made Elizabeth City a major shipping point for goods bound for Norfolk and the Chesapeake Bay area’s deep water ports. Over time the town’s growth varied according to the state of the canal. In 1892 the canal was bought and a massive reconstruction project was started in 1896 and finally finished in the autumn of 1899. A period of increased trade and prosperity followed.

Unfortunately for Elizabeth City another Canal was built linking the south to Norfolk. In 1929 the federal government bought the Dismal Swamp for half a million dollars, less than half the cost of its original investment. The government then dredged and repaired the canal to use as a strategic link to the Atlantic Ocean during the submarine threat of World War II.

Since the 1950’s there have been a number of attempts to close the Dismal Swamp Canal, due to government budgetary cutbacks, but efforts by many residents have insured that the town remains on the ICW map. It is now designated as a National Historic Landmark.

The Dismal Swamp canal lies between two locks, the South Mills Lock in North Carolina and the Deep Creek lock in Virginia, a distance of just under 20 miles. The canal is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and currently has a minimum depth of 6 feet, although during drought periods the level drops drastically, and it is then closed.